THE DOMINION'S STOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 190, 12 August 1919, Page 9

THE DOMINION'S STOCK.

NO ALARM FOR DECREASE. EXPERT OPINIONS. AND ADVdCE. Tlie possibilities ahead of the Dominion in respect to increasing the numbers of stock and their quality wae reviewed by several prominent authorities on the ?üb-jee-t yesterday. A return issued on April 30 of the present year showed that oim-e the last census the total sheep decreased by 70i),745, while pigs had decreased by 23,472. The falling off in the number of sheep was not considered serious, however, as exports from the Dominion would show that there had been considerable shipments of frozen mutton. The shortage was confined to the 'South Island, the North Island having made headway in respect to her numbers.

Likewise the diminution in tlio numbers of pigs, from tlie standpoint of two officials, whose duty it is to keep in touch with a.ll the prevailing conditions in respect to the Dominion's live stock, did not give cause for alarm, the decrease in numbers being accounted for by the fa.-t that it had paid farmers to I turn their attention, during the period; under review, to calves more so thani pigs. The position waa controlled by I the market. If (jo-od prices wore offering for pips tho farmers would see that they had plenty, whereas if it was the reverse, and tht- demand was for colvOβ attention would be turned to them. Cuttle was bring produced, but not reared. Thousands of calves were ueinß. slaughtered at birth. Now that dried milk and casein factories were becoming established the farmers were having to rely more on nrtifU-inl foods for the rearing of th«>ir calves, which made it not only troublesome but more expensive. This would influence the position in future more seriously than anything else. Of course, the man who intended to rear his own herd would necessarily have to keep his calves. The defii ieney in pigtf, they wore confident, could be i wiped out in a very short time, such prolific breeders were they. In fact, at present everything pointed to an increase in pigs during the present year. The total deficiency in the Dominion , !} stock, as shown in the record. tiiey considered, could be made up within two years, but the quality could not he improved at the . came rate. The best method of improving the quality of the cows was by , selecting the best under a weighing and ; testing process, and putting them to a {rood bull. The l-*» should be purchased on the record of its ancestors. It : was in thie way that such satisfactory I results were being- obtained at the Kuakura experimental farm, the bulls of the progeny being sold to farmers. In respect to a surest ion that a good i>elieme for soldier farmers to follow in respect to getting together good herd* of milking cows would be for them to purchase a sire co-operatively, they said that it would be satisfactory if certain conditions were adhered to. but not otherwise. In the plare n bull owned by, say, eig : it farmers could only rwjrvo five earn of the eight herds of,say. 40 each. If the farmers were satisfied with this well and pood, but if they decided to nervu allI their cowa it would follow that they ■would each require a bull. Then again there whs the difficulty that they mip-ht fancy different, breeds, and naturally ' require a bull of that particular breed. ' Further, it was essential that the cowa should be entirely free from disease, Otherwise there was a great possibility I of the disease spreading- through all the herds.